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LIGHTNING DAMAGE – Trying to solve and investigate the reason as why lightning damage has been sustained, you need to treat the site/incident like a crime scene. You need a “Lightning investigator” on the scene before all the evidence is repaired /removed! The average electrician is NOT trained to do this. You need a Lightning Protection specialist to identify the cause of the problem before you can take any remedial action. If the “BEST” Lightning Surge Protection devices your money can buy, is installed incorrectly it is worthless.

THE LIGHTNING INVESTIGATORS – Like a crime scene, we will investigate and find the reason to the damage!

Avoid a reoccurrence of it happening again!

Providing a full Lightning Surge Protection solution based on a holistic approach to identify all the risk factors.

We cover all industries including the agricultural sector.

We pledge to ALWAYS supply products and workmanship that are optimal for the purpose.

All work and products used will be compliant with local SANS and international (IEC) standards and best installation practise.

The average house in Gauteng will be subjected to a direct lightning strike once in a 25 year period, but will be subjected to lightning induced surges and power surges more than 10 times a year.

A good Lightning surge protection strategy dictates areas of protection

1)External Lightning Protection

2) Internal Lightning Protection

External Lightning Protection.

External Lightning Protection, such as down conductors, masts, air termination systems, ect. (Example 1 & 2) This will only protect the building against structural damage in the event of a direct strike. It offers the building a preferential point of strike and a controlled path to earth to dissipate the energy. This will NOT prevent damage to sensitive electronics such as computers and networks, CCTV camera systems, telephone systems, ect.

Explanation as per SANS 10142-1:2009 Annex L

Should you decide to install external lightning protection (exsample 1&2) then according to Annex L you are required to install a combination of Class1 and Class 2 surge arrestors in the electrical distribution boards as a minimum requirement. This can be very costly!

The function of an external lightning protection system is to minimize the risk of fire and structural damage and does NOT prevent damage to sensitive electronic equipment!Masts are generally used where thatch roofs are installed by creating a controlled path to earth for the lightning energy.

A 30 meter mast has an attractive radius of about 108 meters which means that lightning that would have struck 108 meters away will now strike right next to your valuable equipment.

Note: Lightning can cause damage even if no direct strike occurs. Cloud to Cloud lightning discharges up to 2KM away produces enough energy to still cause severe damage to electronic equipment.

Internal Lightning Protection.

Internal lightning protection is designed to protect electrical and electronic installations from lightning and power surges (ESKOM). Computers, networks, CCTVs, telephone systems are very vulnerable. These protection devices are typically installed in electrical distribution boards to protect the electrical supply being fed to this equipment.